Pope Leo XIV has finished his first international trip since becoming Pope. He spent three days in Turkey before leaving for Lebanon on Sunday. His visit came at a time of increasing global tensions. During the trip, he strongly called for peace in the region, repeated the Vatican's support for a Palestinian state, and talked about important issues inside Turkey.
The countries he chose to visit have deep meaning in today's world conflicts. Turkey has tried to act as a peacemaker between Russia and Ukraine and has offered to help in Gaza. This made it a good place for the Pope's message about the need for conversation. Lebanon, which is often unstable and faced Israeli airstrikes recently, showed the Vatican's concern for Middle Eastern suffering.
In the Turkish capital, Ankara, Pope Leo met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking publicly, the Pope encouraged Turkey's international role. "May Turkey be a source of stability," he said. He added that the world needs people who patiently work for dialogue. The two leaders also had a private meeting.
The Pope's work was not only about general peace. On his flight to Lebanon, he spoke to journalists. He clearly confirmed the Vatican's long-held position on Israel and Palestine. When asked, he said a two-state solution is "the only one that can offer a solution." This statement directly challenges the Israeli government, which opposes this idea.
The Pope also talked about Turkey's own social issues. While visiting a cathedral in Istanbul, he stressed the important role of women and the need to support families. This comment is significant because Turkey recently left a major European agreement against violence towards women. Activists say hundreds of women have been killed in Turkey this year, leading the government to propose a new plan.
This first trip shows Pope Leo XIV is actively using the Vatican's moral influence in diplomacy. By clearly supporting a two-state solution and discussing both Turkey's international goals and its domestic problems, he demonstrates a papacy engaged with complex global issues.